O'Leary says missed blocks caused special teams headaches

The Knights (8-2, 6-0 C-USA) had two extra point attempts blocked against Marshall Oct. 27. Last week at UTEP, they had both a field goal and punt blocked.

UCF coach George O'Leary said the problems were caused by blocking mishaps.

"On the [field goal] I thought the kicker was low to begin with and late," he said. "But I thought the right tackle and tight end basically got turned instead of stepping forward keeping shoulders square."

O'Leary said some injuries prompted reshuffling on the punt team and a new personal protector combined with a missed assignment contributed to the blocked punt.

"On the punt the right wing took the wrong guy," he said. "You get rid of a punt in 2.15 [seconds], that's what it should be, no way you can rush from a gunner's outside and still get to the ball unless you got a jet behind you or something.

"Rob [Calabrese] just took the wrong guy and the underneath guy got it. He knew it right away when he came to the sideline. That's what I like about guys with experience, you don't have to ask him what happened. He said, 'Coach, I blew it. I took the wrong guy.' Discussion ended, we made sure he knew what was going on."

UCF special teams unit will have to be prepared Saturday. Tulsa ranks fourth nationally with 28.77 yards per kickoff return.